Butte semi-weekly miner. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1886-1890, 1887-01-05
GOOD BILL;

Delesats Toole introduced in the House
| of Representatives the twentieth OF last
month a bill to provide for the parting
and refining OF silver and gold bullion at
the assay Office in Helena. The full text
of the Measure is given below. As may be
seen, it's object is to provide means BY
which silver and gold producers may have
those metals assayed, parted and refined,
and their net value ascertained. and the
refined metals transferred to the mint at
Philadelphia, coined, and the proceeds re-
turned to the assay Office at Helena. The
saving Of transportation charges to the
East upon the difference in the weight OF
bullion and the refined metal would, under
this bill, amount to a large saving to pro-
ducers in the course of a year. The follow
ing is the bill:
That the business of the United States
assay Office at Helena, Montana, shall be
in all respects similar to that cf the mints,
except that bars only, and not coin, shall
be manufactured therein, and no metals
shall be purchased for minor coinage. All
bullion intended by tn. depositor to be
converted into coins Of the United States,
A0U H1IVGE OUlllOu ptTCudSS1A 1OI CO1udSCs
when assayed, parted, and refined, and its
net value certified, shall be transferred to
the mint at Phil ,delphia, under such direc-
tions as shall be made by the Secretary of
the Treasury. at the expense OF the contin-
gent fund Of the mint, and shall be there
coined, and the proceeds returned to the
assay office. And the Secretary Of the
Treasury is hereby authorized to make the
necessary arrangements for the adjustment
of the accounts upon such transfers be-
tween the respective Offices.
Section 2. That the officers of the assay
Office at Helena, Montana, shall be q Su-
perintendent. an assayer, and a meter and
r%efiner, each of whom shan be appointed
by the President, by and with the advice
and consent of the Senate.
Sec. 3. That the duties Of the superin-
tendent, the assayer. and the melter and
refiner of the assay office at Helena, Mon
tana, shall correspond to those of superin-
tendents, assayers, and meters and re-
of mints; ard all the provisions of
this title relating to mints and their Off
GERS, the duties aud responsibilities Of such
officers, aud others employed therein, the
oaths to be taken and the bonds and sure
Co be given by them shall extend. as fer :
as the same may be applicable. to the az ,
Office at Helena, Montana, and tot t .
clefk6, ana employees. |
Sec. 4. That the officers Of the assay Of
fee at Helena, Montana, shall be entitled
to the following salaries:
First. The superintendent, to four thou
sand five hundred dollars q year..
Second. The assayer. to three thousand
dollars q year.
Third. The meter and r%efner, to three
dollars.
Sec. 5. That the appointment and COM
pensation Of assistants. clerks, and work
men in the a~ssay-ofice at Helena, Mon
shall be regulated in the same man
Ter as is prescribed in regard to mints.
Sec. 6. That the Secretary Of the Treas
Try is hereby authorized and directed to
the assay Office at Helena, Montana,
be remodeled and changed by building
N annex thereto. or otherwise, for the
of parting and refining silver and
old bullion, and provide the same with
he necessary fixtures and apparatus, at a
ost not exceeding fifty thousand dollars,
which sum is hereby appropriated out of
ny money in the Treasury not otherwise
appropriated.